Boston University seeks a creative, collaborative attorney to join the University’s eleven-lawyer legal department. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President & General Counsel, this position provides a unique opportunity for an attorney to participate in the dynamic environment of higher education and litigate matters on the University’s behalf while in house.

Qualified candidates must be well versed in employment law, but will also be expected to advise executive officers and administrative units of the University in other areas of law typical of a higher education practice as required by the needs of the office. This attorney will represent or oversee outside counsel’s representation of the University in state and federal court and before a range of administrative agencies in employment disputes, various discrimination matters, student-related matters, and business disputes.

In addition to providing employment counsel to academic and business units and serving as the primary attorney for advising on labor relations matters involving the University’s ten unions, this attorney will advise on a variety of matters for the University including developing policies in response to regulatory changes and advising University committees and task forces.

Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with two primary campuses in the heart of Boston and programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University today enrolls more than 36,000 students, including over 17,000 undergraduates, and employs more than 10,000 faculty and staff across 17 schools, colleges, and a wide variety of administrative departments.

Skills

Qualified candidates will have excellent academic credentials and a minimum of five years of experience in a high-quality legal practice. They will have outstanding written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, and a demonstrated commitment to our institutional mission and values. Candidates must be able and willing to handle a broad range of legal matters, including, multiple time-sensitive projects; high-profile matters; and routine day-to-day counseling. The successful candidate will be able to analyze complex issues, exercise excellent judgment to provide practical, effective advice to a broad range of clients, and work both independently and in a collaborative environment on a team of high-performing legal professionals.

Specific experience in the following areas strongly preferred: 

• Substantial experience in all aspects of employment and labor law for both represented and non-represented employee populations, including counseling, defense of discrimination and other employment claims, labor grievances and arbitrations, and development of employment policies.

• Experience in all phases of litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, preferably with trial experience, in the areas of employment law, labor law and complex business disputes including commercial contracts.

• Willingness and ability to learn new areas of law related to higher education as required by the needs of the office, including student-related issues and transactional work, other areas of state and federal regulation and other subjects, including transactional work.

Requirements

Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA-accredited law school. Licensed or eligible for immediate licensure to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Interested applicants must apply online to Job Tracking Code #25500141760402 at www.bu.edu/hr/careers. For full consideration, please submit an application by May 1, 2025. In addition to your resume, please submit a cover letter explaining your interest in the position.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.